Gazi was standing up the hill, waving her hand as she waited for him. Mula sa kinaroroonan niya'y malinaw niyang nakikita ang malapad nitong pag-ngiti.
What are you doing there?
Alam niyang nilakasan niya ang tinig nang sinabi niya iyon subalit tila hindi siya nito narinig, dahil hindi ito sumagot. Nanatili lang itong nakangiting naghihintay sa kaniya sa tuktok ng hindi pamilyar na burol na iyon.
He walked faster— he wanted to reach her as soon as he could. But every step he made seemed so heavy. Hindi niya alam kung bakit hirap siyang maglakad— at kung bakit hindi niya marating-rating ang kinaroroonan nito kahit alam niyang kanina pa siya humahakbang. Pakiramdam pa nga niya ay lalo itong lumalayo sa kaniya.
It was odd. But he continued anyway.
Stay right where you are, he ordered as
